We are Bigger

[Lone Ranger]

I've been part of the fantastic fly-in at Heidelberg last Saturday. On the way home I wondered how many
new topics will spring up on the various aviation forums, as it may have looked chaotic having at times
dozens of different types of aircrafts arriving and departing at the same time. Surely there must have
been a number of pilots operating outside their comfort zone.

Having now seen the same old "hoo-haa" written all over again, I will say we microlighters are bigger
"than throwing stones" and tackle the issue constructively from experiences gained.

My Suggestion:

As all the Fly-in's and Fly-out's end up with the same "niggles", we come up with a set of TIPS FOR FLY-IN'S
AND FLY-OUT'S. There is no better forum to work them out, than microlighters.co.za. Once they are
finalized, one of the moderators or senior contributors posts them on to every event.

TIPS FOR FLY-IN'S AND FLY-OUT'S

Before Event: Organize formations (called formation ZU-XYZ) Maximum 10 members?
Formation leader will land and take off first and do all the radio work, deputy leader
lands and takes off last and calls accordingly. Advise organizers/safety officer with
traceable means of intentions. Get Notems, frequencies, co-ordinates, procedures
and maps.

Before Departure: Formation leader briefing, procedures, safety and emergency procedures, etc.

On Route: The closer to the venue, the tighter the formation. Most important: Altitude!
Loose trikes or smaller formations to join up with others.

Arriving at Venue: Do not enter controlled airspace or join overhead airfield without permission. Keep
circuits as short as possible. Try to land as close as possible to taxiways.

On the Ground: Formation leaders meet up amongst themselves to arrange take off sequences.
Formation leaders to meet with safety officer and ATC to advise them of the
needs and capabilities of relevant aircrafts and arrange individual formation start
up, taxi and take off. Hold a formation member briefing.

After Take Off: Don't turn towards the public, hangars or car parks. Leave air space as soon as
possible. Keep formation altitude variances to a minimum.
Remember: With participation comes experience, whatever you do, safety comes
first.

I know most of you operate under these principles already, however it is not the 99% which get' judged,
it's the 1%!!!

Please add or change as necessary. Let's keep it simple and to the point and in a A4 format for possible
printing.

Robert

[emil]

just be careful on the formation thing
there is a big thing at the moment regarding formation at airshows and fly in's
just now the wrong person thinks it is a display formation and it will casue more problmes..
i would say keep it lose call inbound 5 miles out..and line up behind each other...that should be fine

[Wart]

I would agree on formation arrivals and departures. Keep your separation and decide before hand on order of arrival and departure. To keep it clean (and this may take a bit more time??) rather arrive (5 minutes out) under your own individual call-sign and depart as such. Obviously this can be applied to those fly-ins where one may expect a lot more traffic and to keep our noses clean.

Too much throwing of stones here when this energy should rather been spent on bringing GA together!!!

My 2c worth....

[andreb]

I agree Wart. I thought the flying fraternity was a close and cool bunch, but seems it is only us Microlighters (judging by bitching on Avcom - my perspective only). I hope this comment will not spark more tirades...

[The Agent]

May I add that it was some of the finest controling I have heard in a long time and took it apon myself to personally congratulate the ladies with the task of controling.

Yes at times it was busy but all was well and no one got snotty allthoug I heard one blik driver saying that they have been waiting for 10 min BUT so was everyone else.

[DarkHelmet]

Not all can edit accordingly - Agent - I am prepared to sticky this in the events forum if you post a new post - "Procedures to fly in to a fly-in" and another post "Procedures to fly in to an Air-Show" You are the custodian of the post and we will delete posts once you include them into the procedural posts. However, I think it BETTER not to have it as sticky and move it to the WIKI at "wiki" The wiki is where we post stuff we need all pilots to see. We can edit the menu on the left and make it more accommodating. Info on these here forums tends to get lost, lets rather focus on building the wiki with Frequently asked Questions" and info about fly-ins, airshows, how to get your license et al.

This info is PARAMOUNT for any new pilot attempting to fly out of his patch.

My biggest gripe with the forum to date is that it is a site for chatting and people constantly ask the same questions and us regulars constantly answer the same way. BIG waste of time.

Let's "cast in stone" certain things - use the wiki for info - I pre-populated it with a few ideas and some folk already improved on my additions.

So - get editing... wiki if you feel the need - everyone can edit at will. It is all tracked in a database and if you mess it up we can fix it.

Just log in as a registered member of this fine forum and lets turn discussion into action! Write it, cement it in stone and if you are not totally correct concede to the edit. Discuss the edit on the forum.

People want info - and direction... Use the wiki Luke!

[DarkHelmet]

Access the wiki here - wiki

[cobra]

Access the wiki here - wiki

Thanks DH, great idea, I have added our (ERMF) club cruise procedures (guide of good practices) from our forum to the wiki. I hope it is under the appropriate section - events link

[John Boucher]

So actually we have to thank "Chucky" for gettting us all to embark on this journey of discovery!

It only benefits us all!

[grostek]

Hi DH,

How about putting a link to the Wiki on the Board Index Page. maybe a new section under General.

At the moment you have to stumble upon the fact that there is a Wiki.

Sorry for putting it here dont know where to post this.

Kind regards,

Gunter Rostek.

[Ugly Duckling]

Agent, maybe you should post the thread link on Avcom to show the "other oues" that the Microlighters have got their act together & are willing to make changes to procedures.

[cobra]

So actually we have to thank "Chucky" for gettting us all to embark on this journey of discovery!

It only benefits us all!

Chunky the man ! who is Chucky

[cornell]

Its all about Flight planning and Airmanship.

Don't change procedures rather stick to the published ones, then every one is on the same page.

I love trike formations, usually see them when demon and the gang fly in to Ladysmith stunning.

[andreb]

Chunky the man ! who is Chucky

Maybe Chucky is.....aka Chuck Norris, aka Steve Dofmeyer, aka Vernon Koekemoer....